Holliday blasts 151 in fine Cleckheaton win

Spen Victoria batsman Nicholas Montgomery plays a shot during his sides Bradford League Championship game against Hopton Mills last Saturday.

Holliday, a close season signing from Townville, smashed a superb 151 not out to help his side post an impressive total of 309-2.

Holliday struck seven sixes and 15 fours and was supported in an unbroken 224-run third-wicket stand with Mohammad Zaman.

Zaman raced to 107 not out off just 69 balls as he struck four sixes and10 fours.

Cleckheaton’s overseas player Mohammad Bilawal quickly reduced the Woodlands reply to 24-3.

Wicketkeeper Greg Finn (83) and Kez Ahmed (54) put on 69 for the ninth wicket, but Woodlands were eventually bowled out for 230. Bilal finished with 4-49 and Curtis Free (3-28) as the Moorenders moved up to third place in the table before Monday’s round of matches.

Hanging Heaton began the weekend in style as they also claimed maximum points from a 32-run win at home to Pudsey Congs.

Heaton were in early trouble at 24-3 before Joe Fraser and Ismail Dawood (57) shared a fourth-wicket stand of 155.

Fraser twice survived loud caught behind appeals but went on to produce some big hitting, peppering neighbouring houses as he hit seven sixes and five fours on his way to 93.

James Keen struck 47 late on as the home side reached 267-6.

A fifth-wicket stand of 123 between Nick Lindley (96) and Andrew Bairstow (52) kept Congs in the hunt, but their hopes were shattered by the loss of their last four wickets for one run.

Paceman David Stiff took three wickets in four balls to finish with 5-54 as Congs were all out for 235.

Bradford & Bingley were bowled out for just 74 as they crumbled to an eight-wicket defeat against New Farnley.

Mark Lawson (3-29) and Dave McCullum (3-29) did the damage before opener Simon Lambert hit unbeaten 34 to seal victory.

Champions Pudsey St Lawrence suffered their first defeat of the season last Saturday, going down by six wickets at Lightcliffe.

Former East Bierley and Spen Victoria man Rob Burton (3-44) helped reduce Saints to 30-4.

Captain James Smith (93) stabilised the innings but Jonathan Whiteoak (4-67) ensured they were restricted to 183-9.

Alex Stead made 39, but it was overseas player Suleman Khan (59) who ensured his side reached their target.